Tuesday, March 8, 2016

VRPS Members in the Community: Kat Fish

Kat Fish is an Aquatics Specialist II with Prince William County
Department of Parks and Recreation. She oversees an indoor aquatic facility and
Waterworks Waterpark. She has been with the agency as a lifeguard since she was
15 and just reached her 6th year in a full time capacity. Prior to working full
time with PWC she taught high school history classes with Stafford County
Public Schools. It was here where she was able to utilize her passion of dance
to coach and mentor high school dancers on their Varsity and Junior Varsity
teams. She is currently in her 9th year as the Head Coach of the Dance Team
Program at Mountain View High School in Stafford.

How/when
did you become involved with dance? What was your dance journey – where
are you from & how did you get to where you are now - geographically,
professionally, recreationally.

How did I become so passionate about dance? Dance has been in
life since the age of 4. My mother enrolled me in my first creative movement class
at the center where I currently work. I then added more classes by taking tap,
ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, and pointe. In high school, I was on my dance
team and spent my afternoons practicing and then would head straight to my
dance studio for many more hours of dance. On average I was dancing about 30
hours a week in high school. Upon graduation I knew that dance needed to remain
in my life. I attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where I
participated in their Dance Company and Dance Marathon. I graduated with two
minors in Dance Education and Dance Performance. I was hired to coach and teach
for Stafford County Public Schools in 2007. The school and team were only two
years old, so I was motivated to create and build my own program.

What
was your greatest concern or doubt, and how did it turn out? What steps
have you taken as a result?

When I was hired I was told some of the history of the last two
years of the team. I heard there were issues with the past coaches but at the
same time I heard that the team was upset at the departure of their former
coaches. My biggest concern was being that “new coach” that they would have to
adjust to. Adjust to my rules, my way of running practices, and my expectations
of them and of myself as a coach. The first year was definitely a year of ups
and downs and lots of learning. I took all of the challenges and successes and
captured those onto paper. At the end of the year I reflected back to my notes
and created the official Constitution for the team. This set clear expectations
for dancers, parents, and myself as the coach. The team had not had any formal
guidelines in terms of attendance, grades, behavior, etc. Forming this was a
huge step in making the team “my own.” Each year the coaches and I continue to
revise and update the Constitution to fit any new obstacles that we have faced
in the past year.

How
do you feel your efforts with this initiative have strengthened you as an
individual, a professional, and a VRPS member?

Some of my team’s major accomplishments in my 9 years as coach
were winning the EDA All-Around Grand Champion in 2014 and 2010. They were also
Grand Champions in two divisions in 2014 and three divisions in 2010 at U.S.
Finals in Virginia Beach. The team continuously has been awarded “Best
Technique” at local and national competitions.

When the team is not competing, I encourage community
involvement by supporting Special Olympics and performing at local elementary
schools fundraisers. They also host a six week dance camp for local middle and
elementary schools, teaching proper stretching techniques and dance routines.
Beyond their local community, they perform at the Pro Bowl, with the Elite
Redskinettes, and during the Macy’s Day Parade.

While stressing teamwork, I also promote growth of the
individual dancer. I understand the importance of helping my dancers grow by
allowing them to help choreograph their own routines. I then guide them in the
refining and cleaning process. The rapport I build with them during this
process is evident by the number of dancers that return to perform in the
annual alumni routine during basketball season.
Many of those alumni have been extremely successful in their dance
careers after graduating from high school. Four have been EDA/UDA instructors,
nine have been in college dance companies, and five have been selected for
collegiate dance teams. Our current JV Coach is a past dancer and a member of a
semi-professional football dance team.

If
you could choose one thing to happen for the program in the future, what would
it be?

Dance has become a very expensive sport and we have seen a
gradual decline in our numbers when it comes time to tryouts. As a team that is
solely supported by team fundraisers, I would like to see that one day the
school would provide more financial support. Our winning record in Stafford
County is one to be proud of but I would like to enjoy this record with more
dancers being able to participate without having to worry financially.

What
is your best moment throughout the year?

My greatest moment each year with the team is our Alumni Dance.
We invite all alumni dancers back to practice for a week. They learn a routine
with the current members and then they all perform together at halftime of a
home basketball game. Each year we have
at least 10 alumni dancers come back and join us for this experience. It is an
opportunity for them to check up on their alma mater and for me to reconnect
with members that I was once so closely connected to. We are not just a 4 year
team… we are a family.

Anything
else you want to express ?

The Leadership Training Institute was my introduction into VRPS. This
was the first training I attended and I became instantly hooked on VRPS. From
the educational sessions, to the chance to reflect on myself as a supervisor
and truly learning new things about myself – I am grateful for my chance to
attend LTI. Since LTI, I have become involved in Annual Conference, Northern
Service Area, and I am completing my second term with the Leadership Training
Institute Board. VRPS has given me the opportunity to step outside of my agency
and work with other highly talented professionals in the recreation field.

Excellent article and a living example of integrating your passion for dance and teaching into your professional and personal life. You strive to be your own best self, as well as bring out the "best" in others on both an individual and team level.

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About Us

VRPS is a private, non-profit professional organization, founded in 1953 and incorporated in 1956. Its purpose is to unite all professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks and other leisure services in the Commonwealth of Virginia, into one body. VRPS is an affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association.